Transcript Joanna Clark (Essex Libraries) Paul Hollands (Bristol University)

Joanna Clark
(Essex Libraries)
Paul Hollands
(Bristol University)
www.euroguide.org
What is Euroguide?
• A subject gateway to quality websites
which contain information on the
European Union
• Content
•
•
•
•
•
List of categories
A to Z list of websites
What’s New?
Suggest a site
Ask us a question
www.euroguide.org
Who developed Euroguide?
• Earl Task Group on European
Information
• Essex Libraries
• Sixtyeight Creative Solutions
• Hosted by UKOLN
www.euroguide.org
Objectives
• Guide the public through the maze of
European information on the web to
authoritative sources of EU
information
• Provide Public Library Authorities
with an efficient, cost effective
alternative to creating their own
European library links
www.euroguide.org
Who is it aimed at?
• Aimed at users who might have
limited experience of using the
Internet
• Users who might have little
understanding of the EU and
European information
• Other Public Library Authorities
www.euroguide.org
Design Considerations
• Had to be easy to use
• Important that it looked visually
attractive and interesting
• Own identity and domain name
• Participative, encouraging users to
recommend useful websites and ask
questions about European information
www.euroguide.org
Usage of Euroguide
Since Euroguide was launched in
October 1998 the usage rate has been
impressive. Example of enquiries
include:
“Why is Croatia not part of the EU?” from Croatia
“I’m moving to Norway and want to take my rabbit.
What are the quarantine laws?” from Canada
www.euroguide.org
Future Developments
• We need suggestions for new sites to
include on Euroguide
• Brief descriptions about the new and
existing sites so that users can judge
the relevance of the sites
• Planned publicity campaign
www.euroguide.org
Introducing ROADs
• Euroguide has recently transferred
from its original software to ROADs
software
• ROADs has brought us in line with
other subject gateway providers
• Updating Euroguide is now much
faster
www.euroguide.org
Updating Euroguide
• New categories can be added and the
contents of existing categories
edited
• Entries can be added or edited at any
time and the website is updated
immediately
• A link checking report can be run at
any time, identifying error messages
and URLs that no longer exist
www.euroguide.org